Month: May 2014

Fresh Tomato Soup

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tomato2

Fresh Tomato Soup

  • 1 onion
  • 2 carrots
  • 2 ribs of celery
  • 4 cloves of garlic
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil (or butter)
  • 5 organic tomatoes
  • 2 cups organic chicken broth
  • 28 oz can organic tomatoes (796ml)
  • 14 oz can coconut milk (398ml)
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme
  • salt and pepper to taste

tomato1

Chop up onion, carrots, celery, garlic.  Cook in coconut oil over medium heat until soft.

Chop up tomatoes and add to the pot along with the rest of the ingredients.

Bring to a boil and turn down to medium heat.  Leave the soup on medium for approx. 20 minutes to boil off some of the excess water.

Place soup in a blender and puree.  Season with salt and pepper.  Serve.

tomato3Proof that the kids loved it!

 

Moroccan-Style Meatballs

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This meal came together very quickly and it was so good that I’ll be making it again very soon.  It was a hit with our 3 year old but the 18 month old won’t eat meat, and apparently is rebelling against carrots now too…

We served it with quinoa, but it can be a stand on its own dish served with a side salad.

meatballs

Moroccan-Style Meatballs adapted from here.

Serves 4-6

  • 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
  • 1 lb ground pork
  • 1/3 cup grated onion
  • 1 egg
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp chili
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp dried ginger
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper

Place all ingredients in a large bowl and mix with your hands.  Form meatballs slightly larger than golf balls, place onto a plate and set aside.

Stew

  • 2 tbsp coconut oil (or butter)
  • 3 onions, chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 28oz can diced tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup organic raisins
  • 3 medium carrots, chopped
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

In a large oven-safe pot, cook onions in coconut oil over medium heat until soft and translucent, about 10-15 minutes.

Add cinnamon, turmeric, and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes.

Add broth, tomatoes, raisins, and carrots, and bring to a boil.

Carefully press meatballs into the stew mixture until covered, sprinkle with cilantro, and cover the pot.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until carrots are tender.

 

 

Kid Friendly: Almond Crusted Fish Sticks

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This is one meal that my kids actually eat!  If you loved fish sticks as a child, then you will love these.  They are a gazillion times more delicious than that frozen crap I grew up on, and are also gluten-free!  If you don’t like garlic than you can just leave it out.  You can also add some dried parsley if you’re feeling fancy 😉  I just didn’t have any to use tonight!

I don’t recommend tilapia because they are bottom feeders.  You’re better off with halibut or cod.

fishsticks

Almond Crusted Fish Sticks

  • 1 lb cod or halibut
  • 1.5 cups blanched almond flour
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 cup butter or coconut oil for frying

Cut fish up into 1 inch x 3 inch pieces, or as close as possible to the same thickness. Place almond flour, salt, and garlic powder in a bowl, and the 2 beaten eggs in a separate bowl.

You will want to fry the fish in 2 separate batches to avoid crowding the pan.  Heat a large pan with 1/4 cup of butter or coconut oil.  Dip each piece of fish in egg, then the almond flour mixture, and place in the pan.  Fry until browned on both sides – 3-4 minutes per side.  I always cut into a piece to be sure they’re done.

While the first batch is cooking, you can prepare the second batch and place them on a plate, ready to take the plunge into the next 1/4 cup of butter/oil.

These are delicious plain, served with ketchup or with home made tartar sauce, recipe below:

Homemade Tartar Sauce

  • 1/2 cup mayo
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp or more tartar sauce (to taste)
  • salt and pepper to taste

Mix and enjoy!  Hey, I never said it was a healthy home made tartar sauce.

Connecting to your Spirit

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blueskyI camped out in the car this morning since Arlo fell asleep during the 2 minute drive home, and read about how to dig deep and follow my intuition.  The exercise ended with time to sit still and quiet the mind, and just relax for a moment or two to connect with your breath – your direct line to Spirit.  This is something I rarely get to do during daylight hours and the results this morning were amazing.

If Arlo hadn’t fallen asleep I would have rushed inside with a fussy baby and been greeted at the door by my dear friend Laundry.  Instead, I was given the gift of a quiet and peaceful moment to myself where I focused on feeling the light within my heart.

The birds were chirping, and the sun was warm on my face.  Before I knew it I was deep in meditation.  I was present.  My heart was ablaze and my vibration was strong.  It was bliss.  And then I fell asleep, my head nearly fell off, and my body jerked back into reality – but the bliss remained.  When we take a few moments to breathe and connect to our Spirit, our vibration raises.  We’re happier.

People are in such a rush these days that they are truly missing the beauty in life. In themselves.  There are golden moments to be had if you just simply slow down for a few minutes a day.  Close your eyes, feel the sunlight on your face, and breathe deeply.  When people have a few minutes to spare, they can usually be found clutching their iphone.  So put the phone away, and experience what it is to be in the moment.

A few weekends ago we were walking along the Humber River when we crossed paths with a woman reading a book while walking.  “At least it’s not a phone?” I thought to myself.  She then moved the book aside and revealed a smartphone in her other hand!  I didn’t know whether to be appalled at her lack of presence, or impressed.  I sent her love.

Take a second to admire just how beautiful our planet really is.  Look around.  Slow down.  Breathe and connect to your Spirit – the real you.

I’m Quitting.

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Today started out like most days.  Kids crying, kids putting stickers on the wall, kids writing all over said walls with pencil crayons that I cannot get off.  We yell.  Never again or you’re basically dead, child, we say.  Hubby takes the kids to school because I for once took the high road from yelling.  I walked away and quit being a parent completely.

An hour later I finally made my way to the cafe to let my hair down, soak in some organic tea, eat my gluten free brownie and go “OMmmmmmm”.   I relax – for a whole 5 seconds.  My intuition pipes up and says.  “No.”  “What do you mean, no”?  “Go running,” it says.

So I do what any good intuitive does and sit there and eat my brownie and read my book.  I ignore it.  No I say.  No!  I need to relax.  But it won’t let me.

So I pack up and go home, charge my phone to sync it with mapmyrun, stuff my little 8 week sausage baby otherwise known as “Arlo” into my new SUV of a running stroller, wad some kleenex into my pocket to nurse my killer sinus cold, and I run.  And run and run and run.  I run for a total of 7.86 km, and I feel better than I have in a long time – the entire time.

So listen to your intuition.  It wants to make you better.  Your ego wants to sit down and eat brownies and drink tea.  Hell, your ego wants you to enjoy a big fat cake so it can get to work putting it straight onto your big fat super hot ass.  No thank you ego.  I’m quitting you.

arlorun